Social Stigma is acerbating Asia’s Mental Health Crisis

India had the highest suicide rate in Asia (CNN) — and that was before COVID-19 hit and removed many social safety nets. Despite the high rates of mental illness, many sufferers don’t get treatment due to high prices and societal stigmas.

A mental health crisis exacerbated by COVID-19 isn’t only troubling for India, in fact, many countries across Asia face a similar dilemma. Despite the need for government programs to help the mentally ill, many Asian countries still don’t have the infrastructure to treat those in need.

In this special issue, written by Raisa Nastukova, a freelance journalist and photographer, we focus on stories about the mental health crisis across Asia.

Media Coverage of Mental Health

John Crowley saw that his colleagues in the newsroom were burning out with the consistently negative COVID-19 news cycle. He sent a poll to newsroom journalists and received responses from around the world including the Philippines, India, and Indonesia, and found that 77 percent of those polled reported work-related stress; 59 percent said they experienced moments of anxiety or depression during the pandemic (Splice Media)

“Being tough is seen as being part of a journalist’s DNA. Who really wants to put up their hand and say…